Annual Fund for Walker's

Tuition alone does not cover the cost of a Walker’s education.

What is the Annual Fund for Walker's?

The Annual Fund for Walker’s pays for many types of expenses throughout the year. Gifts to the Annual Fund for Walker's supplement the School's operating budget. Like most independent schools, gifts to the School's annual giving program ensure that we can attract and retain exceptional faculty by helping to fund teacher salaries and professional development. The Annual Fund for Walker's, our school's annual giving program, also pays for bus trips for student events and activities, staging for theater productions, and sporting equipment. Simple but essential things such as light bulbs, hot water, campus maintenance, and heating fuel are other examples of expenses that are offset by the Fund for Walker’s.

How do gifts to the Annual Fund for Walker's help the students?

The Annual Fund for Walker's is a critical component of the School's operating budget and it helps close the gap between the true cost of a Walker’s education and the revenue generated from tuition and endowment interest. In fact, in fiscal year 2015, tuition and endowment revenue only covered 51% of the cost to educate our students. This revenue gap isn't unique to Walker’s – it exists at virtually every independent school – as does the community funding that helps to close it every year.

Your gift to the Annual Fund for Walker’s helps underwrite many types of expenses throughout the year. It ensures that we can attract and retain exceptional faculty by helping to fund teacher salaries and professional development. Bus trips for student events and activities, staging for theater productions and sporting equipment are other examples of expenses that are offset in the School’s budget by support from the Annual Fund for Walker’s. Your contribution also pays for things we forget to notice – such as light bulbs, hot water, campus maintenance and heating fuel.

The Annual Fund for Walker’s is an annual campaign that plays a vital role in the financial strength of our School by providing for expenses not covered by tuition or interest from our endowment. The operating budget of the School is supported in large part by gifts made to the Fund. As tuition dollars meet only part, or about 51%, of the actual cost of educating a student, we need to raise additional funds each year to support the gap between tuition and other income and the actual operating cost of the School. The Ethel Walker School is a non-profit, independent organization that operates without financial assistance from any public source.

Large increases in tuition may prohibit a Walker’s education to many families, therefore altering our culture and distinctive learning environment. Because the School is committed to diversity in all its definitions, Walker’s strives to make its excellence in education available to students regardless of financial background. Close to 50% of our students currently receive financial aid. Tax-deductible donations to the Fund for Walker’s keep tuition costs more affordable and provide financial aid and scholarships to deserving students.

Independent schools represent a unique form of education in our society and independence demands an above-average commitment on the part of its members. The participation level of our alumnae, employees, parents and students in fundraising efforts shows other potential donors our willingness to invest in the School's overall success. Corporations, foundations and other friends of Walker’s look at voluntary support levels before deciding to make a gift to our School. Every gift makes a difference, no matter the amount.

Gifts to the Annual Fund for Walker’s and to the endowment are necessary to secure a strong financial future for the School.

All of the money raised through the Annual Fund for Walker’s goes toward the School's operating budget for that year. The Fund represents about 12% of the funding for the School’s operations, including support to academic programs, financial aid, extracurricular activities, athletic programs, faculty salaries, administrative costs and plant operations.

Gifts to the Centennial Campaign support specific campaign priorities, including the building of new facilities, such as the Centennial Center, the new dormitory and athletics pavilion, the upgrading of athletic fields and the corresponding operating funds needed to maintain these spaces.

Endowment gifts are put into interest-bearing accounts that allow the School to use the future earnings to support specific projects.

"From my stellar education to lifelong friendships, I will always be indebted to The Ethel Walker School. You are forever a part of the Walker’s community and EWS is forever a part of you."- Katherine Hypolite '04

“I give and will continue to give to the school I love so well because I would like students of Walker’s to enjoy it as much as I did. The Ethel Walker School gave me some of the best experiences and memories of my life and I would like today’s students to find their own happy memories. Wherever the money goes, whether it is to help pay great teachers, better the facilities, or travel for sporting events, my only wish is that students love attending Walker’s as much as I did."- Tamara Baroody '99